David Lloyd: Ganguly catalyst to allow Kohli to propel Team India forward

22

Former England cricketer David Lloyd outlined how the Indian team has evolved over the years and also stepped foot into the greatest all-rounder debate.

The commentator was the latest guest on Sony Pit Stop and joined in from the secure bio bubble set in place. Lloyd was all praise for former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who according to him gave the team “real steel” when it came to the fast bowling department, an area which India have immensely improved when compared to the past. He said:

“I’m a massive fan of Ganguly by the way. I think Sourav Ganguly gave the team a real steel that we will not be dictated by quick bowlers because we’re going to find some of our own players,”

“It was always a suggestion that India, away from home, don’t like the bouncing ball. Ganguly went to Australia fully prepared for the bouncing ball.

“Of course, India in India, it is unbelievably difficult. But you always felt that India away from home that you’ve got every chance. Ganguly was the catalyst. Ganguly, and there was the duo of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

The 73-year-old also went on to state that Virat Kohli has made the team reach the next level. He added:

“Apart from his (Kohli) greatness as a player, he is a great leader. He’s a fighter and he fears nothing. That is so important. He fears nothing.”

“I think my own view about Kohli is that he is there to win matches. He’s not there to accumulate runs for himself, he is there to win matches and ‘I will lead by example because I’m the best’,”

He gave a brief glimpse of cricket post the pandemic and noted how things have changed with regards to the sport to ensure safety. When asked whether the experience so far has been surreal, He said:

“Yeah, it’s a surreal experience, getting into the ground. But the strangest thing is there are no people around. Usually getting into the ground you have to park your car, people want selfies, there is a lot of signing, there is none of that now.”

“You have to go through the protocol of being tested, and you’re tested sort of every 50 yards. You got to go through this thing which tells you what you’re temperature is. You’re wearing a mask, you’re wearing gloves, hand sanitizers everywhere.”

Lloyd proceeded to thank the West Indies and Pakistan national teams for touring England despite these tough times. He added that the series so far has been entertaining and feels that England will go all out in the final test by picking their strongest bowling attack.

The former cricketer felt that the Windies pace attack would be jaded whereas England, who have rested the fast bowlers for at least a test which will work in their favor. He also suggested the addition of left-arm spinner Jack Leach into the playing eleven in response to the ten right-handed batsmen West Indies have in their eleven.

If you like reading about MMA, make sure you check out MMAIndia.com
Also follow India’s biggest arm wrestling tournament at ProPanja.com

Also read-

Enough is enough: Jofra Archer spills beans on online racial abuse